Who doesn't love a good Before/After?

It's not quite perfect, and decorating on a shoestring when you've inherited a house full of furniture you didn't pick out is trickier than you think, but here's a flavor of our Beach House reveal:

The living room is the first thing you see when you walk in the door.  It was loaded with pink-flowered drapes (with an ocean hiding behind there), lots and lots and lots of seating, and a fireplace with pink starfish tile and green grout.  And did I mention the walls?

Before: walking in.  You basically saw the back of a white leather sofa

After: walking in

Before: looking down from balcony

After: from balcony

Before: From dining area looking towards stairs

After: from dining area looking towards stairs.  Ignore the former dining room table top in the background leaning against the wall... it's soon to be reincarnated as a playroom table at the Green Machine

 I think these photos prove that white paint is the answer to all of life's problems, right?  For those of you who think it's not that great.... for us, a lot of room for Coco us to spread out is key.  And we don't need to all sit on our own couch to do it.  You don't believe me?  Here's the proof - a little Sunday post-beach winddown:

That's the Pizz watching Madagascar, Coco snoozing, Mila-me terrorizing petting Ham, and The Editor doing a puzzle (huh? yep, you heard correctly).

And, for the ultra-curious BY reader, a few of the details about the living room transformation:

• The walls and trim were both painted my favorite color: Super White (Benjamin Moore)
• The sofa and love seat were inherited.  As were the end tables, coffee table/trunk, bamboo chair, TV and one lonely plant.
• The rest of the furniture was either consigned or given away.  We are still getting checks from the consignment shop, which will probably end up funding about 15% of the reno budget we gave ourselves.  Yay!
• The old shaggy carpet went, and was replaced with Hamilton-friendly recycled-content FLOR tiles.
• The old accent pillows all received new covers made by yours truly, the DQ2.0/"Dr. Reno" as the editor calls me, after watching a tutorial on YouTube.  He didn't believe I could sew anything.  I showed him!!

More before and afters to come!!